WOLA Statement
We express our deep concern regarding the brutal beating of José Guadalupe Ruela García, the director of Casa Alianza of Honduras, allegedly by members of the Honduran Military Police. According to the Coalition for the Rights of Children, in which Casa Alianza participates, on May 8th in Tegucigalpa, Mr. Ruela was beaten by members of the Military Police, detained and then released the next day.
Casa Alianza is a well-known humanitarian organization that advocates for homeless children in Central America and Mexico. The latest monthly report by Casa Alianza’s Honduras office, which Mr. Ruelas presented on April 23, noted that in the first three months of the new government’s tenure, 270 children and young people under 23 in the country have suffered violent deaths.
We urge the Honduran authorities to conduct a prompt, full and effective investigation of these events and to ensure the safety of Mr. Ruela.
We express our solidarity with Casa Alianza and urge that embassies and other members of the international community do the same.
